ANGLERS PROVE VALUE OF WET FLIES

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 16

ANGLERS PROVE VALUE OF WET FLIES

r By

MATUKU

In last week’s notes it was pointed out that the wet fly probably gave the best chances of sport under present conditions. A visit by three local anglers to the Upper Wyndham near the Mokoreta School proved this advice to be sound. The river was eight inches to a foot above normal but was quite clear. Because of the rock bound stream bed in this locality the water does not become discoloured and the continual freshes have cleared away the silt and mud. Overhead conditions were pleasant with a slight easterly breeze and intermittent sunshine. One angler elected to use the wet fly while the others proceeded to use the dry fly. At the end fo the day the wet fly exponent had a bag of 19 fish (being in Otago the limit is 20 fish). These fish were a nice sample running up to about 21bs and one fish estimated to weigh 41b got away. The most successful fly was a red-bodied spider with a dark red body and dark wing, resembling a red-bodied Waipahi. A careful study of this angler’s methods showed that he cast across stream and allowed his wet fly to drift downstream in the current, keeping in touch with it by following his line with the point of his rod. This method proved much more successful than the usual method of fishing a wet fly downstream at the end of a taut line. The dry fly anglers had to be contented with a couple of fish each. Only a very occasional fish rose throughout the day and there is no doubt that the wet fly was the proper method of fishing under the conditions prevailing.

FISHING THE WAIAU The writer has been waiting since January for favourable conditions for fishing the Waiau with the dry fly but had considered conditions always uni suitable. Last week-end at the invitation of a northern friend who had pleasant recollections of a previous visit, it was decided to fish the Waiau, in company with a third local enthusiast. The Waiau at the Monowai Bridge was reached about noon and each angler chose the bait or fly of his fancy. One chose the American bait caster, one the wet fly or streamer fly and one the dry fly. The river was above normal and very slightly discoloured but in quite good fishing order and overhead conditions were warm and pleasant with a north-westerly breeze. In about an hour’s fishing each angler had something to show for his efforts. The bait caster who had visions of getting a large salmon was not successful with the minnow. However, while fishing along the edge he saw a brown trout rise to a fly beside a log just above him. He went back to the car and mounted his dry fly rod and promptly hooked and landed a 4Jlb brown trout. The streamer fly proved unsuccessful fished near the surface. However, when floated down into a deep swirl a 41.1 b rainbow promptly took hold and was landed after a thrilling run in the heavy waters of the Waiau. The dry fly expert found a few fish rising along the shallow edges and bagged one of about 41bs.

Afted midday it was decided to try out the Monowai river and a visit was made to this stream. The Monowai was somewhat above normal, but proved dour. No fish were rising and about 5 p.m. a return was made to the Waiau. In the short period before dark more sport was got in the Waiau near the Monowai Bridge. Fishing wet fly with a medium Red Spinner, one angler had another rainbow of about 411bs. One angler had a perfectly conditioned brown trout of 511bs on the dry fly and a 4x cast. He was certainly either fortunate or very skilful to land a fish of this size in the heavy watei - of the Waiau. With the bait caster several fish were risen but failed to hook properly. These anglers were all greatly impressed by the great future of the Waiau as a fishing stream. The fish were in good order and quite a number of flies was seen including some of the large mayflies of the Waiau watershed. On the way to the Waiau the Orawia and Aparima were seen to be in good order, but time did not permit a trial on these streams. FISHING IN LAKE CLEARWATER In a recent issue of The Salmon and Trout Magazine there is an interesting account by Mr John McOnie of the fishing in Lake Clearwater’ in the Ashburton watershed in Canterbury. Describing the fishing Mr McOnie says:— “Dry-fly fishing is productive of good sport when cruising fish can be spotted in light airs and the fly laid across the course. I had two such fish, each exactly 51bs, the first of which relied on its strength evidently and persisted in fighting and boring all in clear view until, after 10 minutes fun I beat it and drew it gasping across the net into which it folded gracefully. The other

was a goer and ran 40 yards of line and half that of backing before I took charge. “Seven and eight pound fish are frequently taken and one of the former weight was the best fish of our catch. I should say the average weight of trout in this lake is around the 31b mark and I saw no fish of lib taken. Such fish are almost invariably returned. The flies in use are of no special pattern, although some habitues swear by some patterns. Fishing dry I took fish on various amateur-tied hackled patterns, regular nondescripts of the winged class of fly. Hardy’s Favourite, Hickham, Peckham (various), Black Gnat are all very effective. Small dry ’flies and tapered casts to 2x and 3x are essential in the clear water. During my holiday the best day’s catch I saw was seven fish, which did not represent the day’s sport, but can be said to be very satisfactory since it was composed of 2flb to 51b fish.”